The children's playground on the beach in Asbury Park was a twisted mess after superstorm Sandy. Repairing Sandy's damage is expected to increase property taxes in 2013.

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Seventh in a 12-part series examining challenges and opportunities confronting New Jersey in 2013.

Despite Gov. Chris Christie's repeated but rebuffed entreaties to reduce income taxes, the year gone by was a relatively dull one for taxes in New Jersey.

The biggest change approved was phasing out a tax on cosmetic surgery. Property taxes inched higher. About the most exciting thing was when a mail truck heading to the Division of Taxation caught fire on the New Jersey Turnpike in September, torching tax forms and payments. ...